Mare Numbers Must Increase to Bring Back Traditional Breeding

Teagasc National Horse Breeding Event

Speaking at the Teagasc National Horse Breeding Conference in Kildalton today Thursday, 21 April, Norman Storey, Teagasc Equine Specialist, said with the increase in the use of warmblood stallions in Irish Sport breeding much concern has been expressed at the demise of the traditionally bred Irish horse.

The number of Irish Draught mares has declined and currently stands at approximately 1,200. “If there is to be a swing back to traditional breeding there will have to be a significant increase in the number of Irish Draught mares. For this to happen all of the Irish Draught mares will have to be bred pure for a number of years”, said Mr. Storey.

However, in conclusion the Teagasc Specialist said that in the short term there can be no major reversal to traditional breeding.

One of the major causes of economic loss to breeders’ and producers’ of young horses are Developmental Orthopaedic Diseases. Developmental Orthopaedic Disease is an umbrella term that covers a group of diseases which affect the musculoskeletal system of young growing horses.

Speaking at the Conference, Dr. Jessica Kidd from Cambridge University said that 3 - 4% of all foals have some form of the disease. The main causes are fast growth rate, dietary imbalance, mechanical trauma, genetics and hormonal.

Because of the risk of Developmental Orthopaedic Diseases occurring the natural rearing of top class foals takes on an even greater significance. In Sweden the focus is increasingly turning towards the mares that not only provide 50% of the genes but also provide basic schooling to their offspring from birth to weaning.

Professor Ingvar Fredricson, President of the Swedish Jumping Club, told the conference that to develop those inherited skills, founded by scientific breeding, the foals need to practice and train what they are wanted to be good at, later in life. To achieve this the horses are stimulated to move around in enclosed paths between the places where they receive food and water.

“The mares are the foals’ natural trainer. The foal follows the mother and the mother follows the herd. This practice helps to develop the horses thereby reducing the risk of injury”, he said.

Dr. P. Rene van Weeren, from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, in his address in analysing jumping ability said that more needed to be known as to whether early training does help in later life. The industry also needs to know if by jumping foals we can evaluate their potential.

He added that a first selection at foal age would not only save much effort and cost it would also permit far quicker genetic progress.

“Dutch research has shown that early training for jumping produces a short term effect that makes the horse jump more efficiently when they are taken into regular training at the normal age. It does not give them any lasting advantage over non trained animals”, concluded Dr. Rene van Weeren.